The Moth-Paulsen Research Group at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden has made important strides in a potential new energy storage mechanism. They have demonstrated the ability to use solar energy to convert one type of liquid molecule into another liquid molecule with stronger chemical bonds that can be stored at room temperature. Then when energy is needed again, the newer molecule interacts with a catalyst to release Read more…

I recently created a page where I show the results of modifying the PSCAA greenhouse gas emissions life cycle analysis SEIS model with updated values for parameters such as the methane global warming potential and slippage rates. Please have a read if you are interested in understanding what the greenhouse gas emissions will likely be for the PSE LNG facility.

During the past two years, a number of groups have requested that the City of Tacoma conduct a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Puget Sound Energy (PSE) Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility. I wanted to capture these various requests as well as any responses received from the city. Numerous additional verbal, and potentially written, requests have also been made at the monthly citizen’s forum sessions. As I track down these written requests, I Read more…

One episode of an environmental series called Years of Living Dangerously examines the rates and impacts of methane leaks and how those counter the claim that natural gas is a cleaner fossil fuel than oil or even coal.

Do you ever encounter yourself talking with someone with whom you strongly disagree, perhaps on social, religious, or political issues? Are you happy with how the discourse transpired? If you answer yes to the first question and no to the second, then I would recommend watching Megan Phelps-Roper’s TED talk on how to engage with those of differing views. The video is only 15:17 long, so I would certainly recommend watching it, but if you Read more…

Below are links to the documentation related to the transfer of Lead State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) agency designation from the Washington Department of Ecology to the City of Tacoma for the Puget Sound Energy (PSE) Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) project in the Port of Tacoma. I obtained these documents via a Public Disclosure Request to the City of Tacoma. Note that the lead SEPA agency designation was transferred per Washington Administrative Code 197-11-942, Agreements Read more…

I have started to track the current administration’s efforts to dismantle environmental regulations, in what I am calling the Trump Environmental Tracker. This can be found here: http://tracker.toddhay.com My goal of this effort is to monitor any and all efforts by the current administration or congress (given that the two now are from the same political party) to roll back or enact new laws or regulations that are harmful to the environment. I welcome input Read more…